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Learning Outcomes
 At the end of the lesson, candidates should
be able to:
 Explain the mechanisms of action of steroid
hormone and non-steroid hormones.
 Explain the roles of plant hormones in
growth and development
 Explain the mechanism of phytochrome
action and their roles in photoperiodism and
flowering
 Outline the application of plant growth
regulators in agriculture.

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 ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
is made up of glands called ENDOCRINE
GLANDS.

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Characteristics of endocrine glands :

- secretes chemicals called hormones

- a ductless gland; i.e. the hormone is secreted

directly into the bloodstream

- it has a rich supply of blood with a relatively

large number of blood vessels

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 MAJOR ENDOCRINE GLANDS

1) THE HYPOTHALAMUS
AND PITUITARY GLAND

2) THYROID AND
PARATHYROID GLANDS

3) ADRENAL GLAND

4) PANCREAS

5) GONADS (Ovary and

Testis )

 TABLE 1

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 testosterone

HORMONE :
DEFINITION

 a specific chemical substances

secreted by cells in one part of the
body that is transported in the
bloodstream to other parts of the
body (e.g the organs, tissues and
cells ) where it affects particular
target cells

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HORMONE PROPERTIES

 Specific

 A small soluble organic molecule, needed

in a small quantity

 Effective in low concentration

 Travels in blood

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  Fits into precise target molecule and
specific for a particular target

 Slow but long term effects

 Production of one hormone effects

other hormones

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Types of hormones

1) Steroids
Include sex hormones
eg: oestrogen, progesterone,
testosterone
2) Non Steroids
peptides or amino acid-based
(amides)
eg: ADH, insulin

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 Mechanisms of hormone action
1) Mechanism of action of steroid
hormone
eg : testosterone, Progesterone,
aldosterone, oestrogen etc

2) Mechanism of action of non-

steroid hormone
eg : adrenalin, insulin, glucagon
etc
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MECHANISMS OF HORMONE ACTION

1. Mechanism of action of steroid

hormone
e.g: steroid hormones (testosterone) by
testis
 Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble, so
that they can diffuse easily through the
plasma membrane into the cell
 Bind to a receptor protein in the
cytoplasm or nucleus to form a hormone
- receptor complex
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 MECHANISMS OF HORMONE ACTION

Mechanism of action of steroid hormone

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 The receptor-hormone complex enters

the nucleus.
 The receptor-hormone complex binds to
a specific section of DNA which
functions as a gene.
 The complex stimulates the gene to
transcribe mRNA (mRNA formation).
 The mRNA enters the cytoplasm and it
translated into new proteins such as
enzyme

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 The steroid hormones diffuse
through the plasma membrane into
the cell and binds to a receptor
protein in the cytoplasm to form a
receptor-hormone complex.

The receptor-hormone complex

enters the nucleus.

The receptor-hormone complex binds to

a specific section of DNA which functions
as a gene.

D The complex stimulates the transcription

of the gene to form mRNA.

E The mRNA enters the cytoplasm and it

translated into new proteins.

Mechanism of action of steroid hormone

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 2) Mechanism of action of non-steroid
hormone

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2. Mechanism of action of non-steroid

hormone
e.g. ADH, adrenalin, insulin and
glucagon

 These hormones are insoluble in lipid,

cannot pass through the plasma
membrane.

 Hormone diffuses through the blood

and then reaches the target cell.
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  Hormones act as a first messenger binds to
the receptors presence on the plasma
membrane of the cell to form hormone-
receptor complex.

 The hormone-receptor complex activates a

protein called G-protein

 The G-protein then binds to the enzyme

adenylyl cyclase.

 This binding activates enzyme adenylyl

cyclase in the membrane cell

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 The activated adenylyl cyclase

catalyses the conversion ATP into
cAMP. cAMP act as a second
messenger

 cAMP activates a variety of protein

kinases in the cell
~ cAMP activates 1 or more enzymes
( series of enzymatic reactions:cascade
reactions ) which change the metabolic
activity of the cell.

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 Glucagon

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 Cascade effect where the action of an

enzyme in turn activates another
enzymatic reaction producing many
product molecules.

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  Eg: If the hormone is glucagon, the
cAMP that is formed in the liver
activates the enzymes responsible in
converting;
Glycogen glucose phosphate
glucose

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 cAMP activates the enzyme protein kinase

which activates the enzyme
phosphorylase kinase.
 The active phosphorylase kinase activates
the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase that
catalyses the breakdown of glycogen to
glucose phosphate.
 Glucose phosphate is converted to
glucose.

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 Adenylyl

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 Differentiation between two hormonal
action
Mechanism of action of Mechanism of action of
steroid hormone non-steroid hormone
The steroid hormone can The non-steroid hormone
pass through the cell cannot pass through the
membrane of target cell cell membrane of target
cell
The hormone binds with The hormone acts as a
a specific receptor in the first messenger & binds
cytoplasm or nucleus of with a specific receptor
target cell in the cell surface
membrane of target cell

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Mechanism of action of Mechanism of action

steroid hormone of non-steroid
hormone

The hormone receptor There is no gene

complex binds to activation.
regulatory site of DNA in No transcription &
the nucleus which leads translation occur
to activation of specific
genes.
Transcription &
translation occur.

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 Mechanism of action of Mechanism of action
steroid hormone of non-steroid
hormone
There is no involvement of The binding of hormone
G protein & adenylyl to receptor activates
cyclase. protein G, adenylyl
No cAMP is produced. cyclase & converts ATP
into cAMP

There is no cAMP to cAMP acts as a second

activate series of enzymatic messenger which
reaction (enzyme cascade activates the series of
reactions) enzymatic reaction

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